It looked like the orc attendants had all been killed. Shihoru was crying tears of relief and Yume was hugging her, saying, “There, there. You did great. Just great,” as she patted her on the head.

“Can you get up?” Merry asked.

Yeah, no, I can’t. Haruhiro was about to tell that lie, because it seemed like Merry would treat him gently if he did. But he didn’t.

“I can manage, yeah,” Haruhiro said, getting up. “Though, really, before you help me...”

Why’s he just standing there? Haruhiro wondered.

Everyone was dancing, chatting, having their priest treat them, or doing something, but Moguzo was just standing there.

There’s something weird about it, Haruhiro thought.

Moguzo wasn’t holding his sword. His arms were slumped at his sides.

It’s incredible that he’s standing at all, though, Haruhiro thought. I’m amazed he can stand. That he managed to stay on his feet. Especially in that state. Like, his helmet, it’s not just crushed, it’s not even fully on. There’s blood dripping off him here and there, too.

Suddenly, Moguzo slowly fell over. Like when something big and heavy suddenly loses its support and collapses. That was the sort of fall it was.

Merry gulped.

“...Moguzo?” When Haruhiro called his name, Moguzo slowly got to his feet. “Wh-What was that for?”

Haruhiro calmed himself, letting out a sigh. That surprised me. For a moment there, I was really panicking. I thought something happened that we can never let happen. There’s no way it would have, though.

“Don’t scare me like that, Moguzo,” he said.

“Sorry, sorry.” Moguzo let out an embarrassed laugh and scratched the back of his head.

Still, he sure is bleeding a lot, Haruhiro thought. With all that blood, it’s impossible to tell what kind of face he’s making. But, well, it looks like he’s fine somehow.

“Thank goodness...” Haruhiro murmured, closing his eyes.

He covered his face with his hands. I think I’m gonna cry.

“Really, thank goodness...”

Seriously, I don’t know what I would have done. If that ever happened, we’d be screwed. So screwed.

It’ll never happen, though.

Like, no way. It couldn’t. Not a chance.

“Thank goodness...”

I think I’m gonna cry. Wait, no, I already am. My hands are wet. The hands covering my face. That’s just how relieved I am. Seriously, what a relief. Thank goodness. Just thank goodness. Honestly—Honestly, I thought he was a goner. I think I vaguely remember having a dream like that. Though, I don’t know when I’d have had time for a dream like that. I wonder. Was it something like a prophetic dream? Like, maybe I had a dream like that last night? A dream where he wasn’t okay? That’s so weird. Having a dream like that. It’s weird. Anyway, thank goodness. Moguzo’s covered in blood, but, still, thank goodness. If nothing else, I’m glad he’s all right.

“Thank goodness...”

Haruhiro heard a voice. His own voice. He moved his hands.

Dark. It’s pitch dark. A room. It’s our room in the volunteer soldier lodging house. Was I sleeping? I was asleep. That means...

He didn’t want to think it. But... he wanted to check, had to check, so he sat up.

There were two bunk beds in this room. Ranta used the upper bunk of the other bed.

Ranta’s there. He’s snoring. And on the lower bunk—He’s not there. No one is. It’s empty.

He’s not there.

Moguzo’s not there.

He isn’t anywhere anymore.